Kathmandu Durbar Square

The name Kathmandu, previously known as Kantipur, derived from Kasthamandap, a rest house built from the wood of a single tree. Kasthamandap”, the wooden structure built from a single tree trunk in the middle of the temples in the 12th century i.e. the Malla period is one of the many architectural buildings at the Durbar Square to visit. In fact, Kathmandu, the largest metropolitan city in Nepal and the nation’s capital derived its name from it. While walking further to the north from here you will find the terrifying Black Bhairab locally known as ‘Kaal Bhairab’.

Adjacent to the God stands the magnificent Taleju Temple, which also dominates the Durbar Square area. The erotic figures carved in the temple struts, extraordinary architecture of the palace building resulted from the great rivalry among the then rulers of the three city-states in the Kathmandu valley and other highly admired monuments are worth exploring on foot. If you are interested in watching how the ancient Nepalese rulers lived you may take a walk in the old palace, and climb up to the nine-storey palace, and enjoy the view of the city center.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is in the heart of the city. It is most often called the Hanuman Dhoka Palace by the locals rather than Kathmandu Durbar Square on account of the big sculpture of the Monkey god – Hanuman placed at the entrance of the Palace, which is now a museum that houses the souvenirs of Shah Kings. Visits to the following are a must, if you have time: The Kumari Ghar – houseof Living Goddess, Shiva Parvati Temple, various shrines situated inside the square premises, carvings, Bhairav temple. One can also visit Indra Chowk, Seto Machhindranath temple and Annapurna temple, which are ten minutes walk from the square. Kathmandu Durbar Square was listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.